Nelson dad denies hitting wife as arranged marriage broke down

Burnley Magistrates Court

A FATHER-OF-TWO said to have assaulted his wife on two consecutive days claimed he didn’t do it, a court was told.

Zeshan Safdar Ali allegedly slapped Umme Habiba, then the day after asked her why she was still there, got angry because she had spoken to his father, pulled her by the arm, hit her head and told her to get lost.

Pennine magistrates heard how the alleged victim, who had entered into an arranged marriage with the defendant, would say it was unhappy and Ali’s family, who she then lived with, were not nice to her.

Ali (26), of Carr Road, Nelson, had been convicted of two counts of assault by beating on May 6th and 7th after a trial, but maintained he was innocent and planned to appeal.

He was given a 12-month community order, with supervision and 120 hours unpaid work by the Bench, who told him his alleged behaviour had been an abuse of power and had left his wife emotionally harmed.

Mrs Alex Mann (prosecuting), said on May 6th, Umme Habiba asked the defendant why he always said horrid things to her.

“He threw the remote control, but it didn’t hit her.

“He then allegedly assaulted her that day and the day after. The defendant had a previous conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm, when he had been given a suspended jail term.

Mr David Lawson, for Ali, said he would say there was a difficult relationship between the two of them because the arranged marriage didn’t work and she was motivated by that.

He still maintained his innocence. Ali’s wife no longer lived in the family home and there was no suggestion at all there had been any contact between the two of them.

The solicitor added: “The appeal against conviction will be lodged as from today.”